At the end of the Holy Mass at the King Baudouin Stadium, after the words of thanks from the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, H.E. Monsignor Luc Terlinden, the Pope led the recitation of the Angelus.

Then, after the final blessing, he greeted the royal family of Belgium and the royal family of Luxembourg. He then drove to the Melsbroek air base for the farewell ceremony from Belgium.

We publish below the words of the Pope when presenting the Marian prayer:

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The words of the Pope

I thank the Archbishop for his kind words. I express my heartfelt gratitude to Their Majesties, the King and Queen, and Their Royal Highnesses, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, for their presence and welcome during these days.

Likewise, I also extend my thanks to all those who, in many ways, collaborated in the organization of this visit; in a special way to the elderly and sick who have offered their prayers.

Today is the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, with the motto “God walks with his people”. From this country, Belgium, which has been and continues to be today the destination of so many migrants, I renew to Europe and to the international community my call to consider the migration phenomenon as an opportunity to grow together in fraternity and I invite everyone to see in every migrant brother and sister the face of Jesus who has become a guest and pilgrim among us.

I follow with pain and great concern the growth and intensification of the conflict in Lebanon. Lebanon is a message, but at this moment it is a message of pain, and this war has a devastating effect on the population. Many, too many people continue to die day after day in the Middle East. Let us pray for the victims, for their families, let us pray for peace. I ask all the parties in conflict for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, in Gaza, in the rest of Palestine and in Israel. Let us release the hostages and allow humanitarian aid. Let us not forget the wounded of Ukraine.

I also thank all those who have come from Holland, Germany and France to share this day. Thank you all.

At this moment, I would like to give you some news. On my return to Rome, I will begin the process of beatification of King Baudouin, who with his example as a man of faith will enlighten the rulers. I ask the Belgian bishops to commit themselves to carrying forward this cause.

Let us now turn to the Virgin Mary by praying together the Angelus. This prayer, very popular in past generations, deserves to be rediscovered. It is a synthesis of the Christian mystery, which the Church teaches us to introduce into the midst of our daily occupations. I entrust it especially to the young, and I entrust all of you to our Blessed Mother, who here, at the altar, is represented as the Seat of Wisdom. Yes, we need the wisdom of the Gospel. Let us ask the Holy Spirit for it often.

And, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, let us ask God for the gift of peace for the martyred Ukraine, for Palestine and Israel, for Sudan, Myanmar and all the peoples wounded by war.

Thank you all! And onward, “en route, avec Esperance.”